Grand Junction Official Visitor Guide - Grand Junction Official Visitor Guide
A Different Side of Colorado
2025-12-18 07:09:49
DISCOVER A DIFFERENT SIDE OF COLORADO
Winter in Grand Junction looks different than the rest of Colorado. Thanks to Grand Junction’s temperate climate, 300+ days of sunshine and easy accessibility, you can enjoy your favorite summer activities while still having access to the world-renowned snow sports that Colorado is known for. When most people think of a Colorado winter, they conjure up images of busy ski towns and high-end resorts. While Grand Junction does get snow like the rest of the state, providing for a quintessential ski vacation at Powderhorn Mountain Resort, it’s much more affordable in Grand Junction so you can justify saying another night or two!
HIKING & BIKING
While Grand Junction is known for its excellent hiking and biking opportunities during the summer months, winter is one of the best times of the year to get out and explore the area because of the cool and comfortable weather. Hike in sneakers while exploring the Colorado National Monument’s 43 miles of trails framed by steep canyon walls and spires jutting up to the sky. For an easy and rewarding hike, check out Canyon Rim Trail. This beginner-level trail offers scenic vistas of the canyon and is perfect for the kiddos. For your two-wheeled winter adventure, explore the Lunch Loops mountain biking area. Just minutes from Downtown, it’s a local favorite where residents duck out on their lunch break for a quick spin. The Big Sister loop is an excellent trail for intermediate mountain bike riders who are looking for some technical sections to add variety to their ride.
WINTER WONDERLAND
The best part about a Grand Junction winter is that you can go from hiking and biking to enjoying all the Colorado snow sports you expect with just a short 45-minute drive from Grand Junction to the Grand Mesa, the largest flat-top mountain in the world. After taking exit 49 to highway 65 from interstate 70 east, the road is an easy drive and is well-maintained during the winter months. With an average of 250 inches of snow per year, the Grand Mesa is bursting with winter sport opportunities. As you ascend to the top of the Grand Mesa, you will pass by Powderhorn Mountain Resort, which offers affordable pristine skiing and snowboarding - all without the crowds. Combine that with three professionally groomed cross-country ski areas, dozens of easily accessible lakes to ice fish on and miles of snowshoe trails. The Grand Mesa is the perfect place to get your Colorado winter fix and dogs are welcome!
OFF-ROAD FUN
Year-Round Dirt
With hundreds of roads and trails to power your engines on, there are unlimited options to enjoy your off-highway vehicle (OHV) on, including your side-by-side, ATV, dirt bike and four-wheel drive. Many of the trails are open year-round.
Popular Trails
Access points around Grand Junction offer over 480,000 acres of public lands that are open to OHV travel. Trails in OHV areas zig-zag back and forth across the striking landscape. Bangs Canyon and Rabbit Valley Recreation Area are two popular OHV areas in Grand Junction. The Grand Mesa and North Fruita Desert are also fun areas that offer a labyrinth of trails.
Single Track
For avid dirt bike riders looking for single track, you will be surprised by the network of trails available in the Grand Junction area – check out Third Flats. We’ve all heard of Moab, but there is vastly more single track here. Bring your own machinery or rent from several businesses who carry a wide range of inventory.
PALISADE PLUNGE
One-Of-A-Kind Descent
Plunge from the top of the Grand Mesa National Forest for 32 miles of downhill single-track adrenaline-pumping action. The Plunge trail connects the top of the Grand Mesa to the valley with 6000 feet in elevation descent through pristine public lands.
Rooted in History
The route connects a variety of trails on top of the Grand Mesa which are steeped in history. John Otto forged new paths more than a century ago. Otto was a local explorer who was Colorado National Monument’s first custodian, and was the main advocate for getting the Monument recognized as part of the National Park System.
Scenery
The single-track trail winds through aspen groves, alpine forests and high desert, some of which has long been unused for hundreds of years, except by 4th generation ranchers and their cattle.
Expert
Yes, you read that right! This singletrack is not for the faint of heart. There is no exit route, so once you commit, you’re all in. Pack at least 2.5 gallons of water per person.
POWDERHORN
Cool Vibe
Colorado is known for its huge resorts and high-end mountain villages, but the smaller ski resorts continue to upstage the pretentious atmosphere of the well-known ski areas. Affordable, family-friendly, no I-70 traffic jam (just 45 minutes from Grand Junction) and a comfortable vibe is why Powderhorn is the hip place to hit the slopes.
Powder
On average 250 inches of white fluffy snow blankets this ski resort which offers 1,600 feet of elevation gain and access to over 60 runs with 20 percent green, 50 percent blue and 30 percent black. Bear Claw, Mudslide, and Cannonball are a few favorites. From the top of the mountain, you can access an abundance of backcountry runs.
Tree Skiing
Another quality that sets Powderhorn apart is the tree skiing. Much of the resort is covered with pine trees and dense aspen groves, making for unique powder-filled runs. Some of the best tree skiing on the mountain is accessed from the West End lift.
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